Joined the Bills staff this year after spending a year as a volunteer coach for the New England Patriots (2003) where he assisted in coaching the defensive line and helped formulate the overall defensive game plan for the Super Bowl champions.

Was the linebackers coach for Jacksonville under Tom Coughlin (1994-02) where the Jaguars became the most successful expansion team in NFL history during its first five years of existence. Joined the Jaguars coaching staff after spending three seasons as the defensive coordinator for Boston College (1991-93) and the team improved from a 4-7 record in 1990 to 9-3 in 1993 along with a number 12 national ranking.

Prior to his stint with Boston College, was the defensive coordinator at Colorado State and helped the rams improve from 1-10 in 1988 to 9-4 in 1990

Jacob Burney is in his third season as defensive line coach with the Broncos, following successful stints with Carolina (1999-2001) and the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens (1994-98). He has coached 10 seasons in the NFL and has forged a reputation as a vocal leader for his players and one who takes a hands-on approach to his teaching.

Last season, Burney's defensive line was a major force for a defense that finished the season fourth in total defense in the NFL. Defensive end Bertrand Berry led the team with a career-high 11.5 sacks for -52 yards, and four-time Pro Bowler Trevor Pryce added 8.5 sacks (-47 yards). The defense only allowed 277.1 yards a game, which ranked fourth in the NFL and third in the AFC.

Similar results came about in 2002 as the line helped the defense finish the season sixth in total defense in the NFL and fourth against the rush. They were represented in the Pro Bowl by defensive end Trevor Pryce, who made his fourth consecutive trip after leading the team with nine sacks. In addition, the Broncos were one of the toughest defenses in the league last year against the run, limiting their opponents to just 93.1 rushing yards per game last season.

Keith Butler enters his second season as the Steelers linebackers coach.

Butler joined the Steelers Jan. 28, 2003, after serving the previous four seasons in a similar capacity with the Cleveland Browns (1999-02).

Prior to the Browns, Butler spent nine years coaching in the college ranks.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Memphis, where he coached linebackers from 1990-97 and also coached defensive ends and special teams (1995-97). He served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Arkansas State University in 1998.

Butler was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1978 NFL Draft and played linebacker for 10 seasons (1978-87) with Seattle. He served as a defensive captain for the team and started 132-of-146 games in his career and still ranks second on the club’s all-time tackles list with 813.

In his 10 years with the Steelers, Mitchell has been instrumental in the development of several defensive linemen, including current Steelers Kimo von Oelhoffen, Aaron Smith, Pro Bowl tackle Casey Hampton and Rodney Bailey, a sixth-round draft pick in 2001 who accumulated a lot of playing time the past three seasons. He also helped develop former Steelers such as former All-Pro nose tackle Joel Steed, Kevin Henry and Orpheus Roye.

A former All-America defensive end for Alabama, Mitchell's early years in coaching were spent studying under two of college football's greatest coaches.

Mitchell began his coaching career in 1973 as defensive line coach under Paul ''Bear'' Bryant at Alabama. After four years at Alabama (1973-76), Mitchell spent six seasons as defensive line coach at Arkansas (1977-82) on Lou Holtz's staff.

In 1983, Mitchell made his first move to the professional level. From 1983-85 he served as defensive line coach for the USFL's Birmingham Stallions and returned to the college ranks in 1986 as defensive ends coach at Temple.

Mitchell began a four-year stint in 1987 as linebackers coach at Louisiana State (1987-90) under current Steelers linebacker coach Mike Archer, who was the head coach. In 1990, Mitchell became the first African-American defensive coordinator in Southeastern Conference history when he was named Louisiana State's defensive coordinator, while continuing to coach linebackers.

Blackmon was named to the Bills coaching staff on January 21, 200. The 2003 season will be his first in Buffalo and 14th as an NFL assistant. After seven seasons in the NFL as a linebacker with the Patriots from 1981-87, he immediately joined the New England coaching staff as an assistant and coached linebackers from 1988-90.

Following a one-year stint in Cleveland as the Browns linebackers coach under Bill Belichick in 1991, he was hired by Dan Reeves to coach linebackers with the New York Giants from 1993-96...in 1997, he went with Reeves to the Atlanta Falcons where he spent three seasons as linebackers coach before being elevated to defensive coordinator in 2001.

Considered one of the top defensive line coaches in the NFL, Nunnely has spent the last seven seasons (1997-2003) as the Chargers' defensive line coach.

Last season, two of Nunnely's pupils, defensive tackle DeQuincy Scott (6.5) and defensive end Adrian Dingle (6) led the team in sacks.

Since Nunnely arrived in San Diego, his defensive line helped the Chargers lead the league in average yards per carry allowed three times (1998, 1999 and 2001) and rank second once (2000). In 1998, the Chargers led the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (71.3) and opponent yards per carry (2.7), the lowest average allowed by any team since 1951. The Chargers did not allow a 100-yard rusher in 1998, despite facing several of the NFL's top running backs, including 2,000-yard rusher Terrell Davis and 1,000-yard rushers Marshall Faulk, Eddie George, Ricky Watters, Antowain Smith, Duce Staley, Gary Brown and Adrian Murrell. In fact, none of the players listed rushed for more than 75 yards in a single game against the Chargers in 1998.

Nunnely spent two seasons (1995-96) as the New Orleans Saints defensive line coach. The Saints' defense ranked in the top five in the NFL in sacks and sacks per play. Nunnely worked at the Saints training camp in 1994 as part of the NFL's Minority Coaching Fellowship program.

Dale Lindsey brings over 25 years of coaching experience to the Redskins coaching staff, including the past two seasons as defensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers. This is his second tour in Washington, after overseeing the Redskins linebackers for two seasons from 1997-98.

Prior to coordinating the San Diego defense in 2002-03, he was a member of the Chicago Bears coaching staff supervising the linebackers from 1999-2001. During that time, he worked closely with Redskins colleague Greg Blache, helping set a number of defensive records with the Bears during the 2001 season, as well as earning the NFC Central title.

While in Chicago, he was responsible for the development of then-rookie Brian Urlacher. Under Lindsey's watch, Urlacher shattered the Bears' rookie record for sacks (eight) and tackles (165) in a single season. He was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000 and earned a trip to the 2001 Pro Bowl.

During his time overseeing the defensive backs, Spagnuolo has aided the progress of Pro Bowlers Brian Dawkins, Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, and promising SS Michael Lewis.

Prior to joining the Eagles, the 44-year-old Spagnuolo spent 15 seasons in the collegiate coaching ranks and two years in NFL Europe. He spent the 1998 season as the defensive coordinator of NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy, who finished second in the league in total defense en route to a World Bowl appearance. In fact, four of the six linebackers and nine of the 11 defensive starters he tutored went on to play in the NFL. Spagnuolo also served as the defensive line and special teams coach of the Barcelona Dragons in 1992.

OVERVIEW: Rex totals a formidable combined 18 years in college and professional coaching ranks…Launched pro career with the Arizona Cardinals as the defensive line coach under his father Buddy…Rex returned to college ranks before coming to the Baltimore Ravens…Helped coach Ravens record-setting defense that did not permit a 100-yard rusher in 50-straight games, including the playoffs.

1998: (with Oklahoma) Named defensive coordinator…Defense ranked sixth in the nation in total defense.

1996-97: (U. of Cincinnati) Spent two seasons as defensive coordinator…Defense ranked fifth vs. rushing and 13th in overall defense in the nation.

1994-95: (Arizona Cardinals) Spent two seasons coaching under his father, then-head coach Buddy Ryan. 1995: In second season, he coached the linebackers. 1994: Rex coached the defensive line…Cardinals ranked in the NFL’s top five in every major defensive statistical category, including third in overall defense.

Denny Marcin joined the Jets on January 9, 2004 after having spent the previous seven seasons as the defensive line coach for the New York Giants. Under Marcin’s tutelage, the Giants annually produced some of the finest defensive line play against both the run and the pass in the NFL.

Has played an instrumental role in the development of NFL all-time single season sack leader and 2003 NFL sack leader Michael Strahan … Strahan led the NFL in sacks in 2003 with 18.5 sacks… in Marcin’s seven seasons with the Giants they combined for 312 sacks, for an average of 44.6 per season… under Marcin’s direction, Strahan has been named to six of the last seven Pro Bowls and has racked up 96 sacks, including the NFL single-season record of 22.5 in 2001.

Also worked closely with such notable players as DT Keith Hamilton, DE Kenny Holmes, DT Cornelius Griffin and promising DE Osi Umenyiora… under Marcin’s guidance, the Giants were also stingy against the run, as the defense surrendered an average of 102.3 yards per game during his tenure… was a member of the Giants’ NFC Championship team in 2000 and coached in Super Bowl XXXV vs. the Baltimore Ravens… was hired by the Giants on Feb. 10, 1997 and saw the Giants’ sack total increase from 30 in 1996 to 54 in 1997… in 1997, the Giants finished with two players with double-digit sacks totals (Strahan with 14 and DT Robert Harris with 10), marking the first time in 11 seasons that multiple Giants recorded double-digit sacks in a season… coached the Giants to a NFL-high 54 sacks in 1998.

Before joining the Giants, Marcin spent nine seasons as the defensive line coach for the University of Illinois (1988-1996)… in addition to his defensive line responsibilities, he served as the defensive coordinator for four seasons (1992-1995) before being named the assistant head coach for the 1996 season… helped mold the careers of future NFL players Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy, both of whom were first round draft choices and DT Moe Gardener, who twice earned All-America honors and was a fourth round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons in 1991.

Buddy Ryan's son looks like a great option if you ask me. He learned from one of the best, has past DC experience, and the way he's 'jolly' looking in his photo almost guarantees he's a fun guy to be around (good recruting sign).

Johnnie Lynn is in his 1st season as the Ravens’ secondary coach. Lynn will share secondary duties with secondary coach Dennis Thurman. Lynn, a former defensive coordinator for the NY Giants, rejoins Jim Fassel, his former head coach at the Giants. Fassel was named senior consultant to the offense for the Ravens in 2004, after seven notable seasons as head coach with the New York team.

OVERVIEW: Lynn was the Giants’ defensive coordinator and seven-year member of Jim Fassel’s staff…He was promoted to the position on 2/7/02…He replaced John Fox, now head coach of the Panthers…Lynn was with the Giants five years before his promotion from secondary coach…While Lynn tutored the defensive backs, the team consistently had one of the NFL’s finest pass defenses…Secondary’s finest moment occurred in the 2000 NFC Championship Game, when the Giants limited Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Minnesota Vikings to just five catches for 42 yards…NY succeeded despite a cast of players that constantly changed.

Re: OK, so Edwards as DC is up in the air. I fooled around and came up with some fodd

ok, well..after another round of "Edwards will be announced shortly", we are back for another round of "Edwards not likely to be DC". So..this thread could be relevant again in the oft-repeated cycle of DC rumors.

Re: OK, so Edwards as DC is up in the air. I fooled around and came up with some fodd

Looks like Rex Ryan is taking over the Baltimore DC job, so scratch him. I'm really liking this Johnnie Lynn guy - former DC for the NY GIants when they had those great D's a few years ago. He's now a secondary coach (and was at NY too)...so he may be willing to 'boost' his career back up to DC status.

Since he was secondary coach, we can pull in those blue chip DB recruits again - and I'm sure he learned a thing or two from Lewis and Nolan - in addition to his previous mentors (Jon Fox was one) and own experience. He's fully vested in the NFL pension plan, so unlike Camp he doesn't have to wait around for a big bonus (Campo 1 year away damnit!..or else who knows, LSU bound?).

Re: OK, so Edwards as DC is up in the air. I fooled around and came up with some fodd

Let me add a quick note on Krumrie. While I wouldn't want him to leave the Bills, if he did, coming to LSU would be awesome. I love the guy.

You want to know how tough and well respected this guy is? When he arrived with the Bills, during his first training camp, to get his respect from the Bills D-line, he challenged each of them to a wrestling match. Now this a D-line that features pro bowlers Sam Adams and Pat Williams, and DE Aaron Schobel. They laughed at him and took him up on the challenge. Well lets just say Krumrie went through 2 guys and had them down on the ground in less than a minute.